How CCTV Cameras Help Solve Crime Investigations
CCTV cameras have become widely used in recent years due to their ability to help solve many different types of crime. Although the process of using CCTV footage to investigate crimes can seem daunting, the benefits far outweigh the initial time and investment it takes to learn how to properly use them.
In fact, thousands of crimes have been solved because of CCTV footage, so any police department that fails to invest in this technology risks leaving criminals unpunished because they didn’t gather enough evidence in the first place.
Here are the ways CCTV cameras can help solve criminal investigations.
Security Cameras Provide Hard Evidence
Crime is an unfortunate reality of life, no matter where you live. The good news is that, nowadays, detective work can be done with the click of a button.
With advances in digital technology, evidence such as security footage can be obtained quickly and efficiently. When footage captures incriminating information or movements, it provides a forensic video that stands up in court without fail.
Capturing Criminal Images
To identify a criminal suspect, investigators will pull still images from the CCTV footage. They then compare those images to digital photos of suspects in the criminal databases.
This process is time-consuming, so the more digital photos available, the better. Those who are committing crimes are on camera far more often than they think they are, and digital technology can be used to find that one image among millions of still shots. One solution is using facial recognition software that analyzes an image and matches it with others from a database.
Capture Slightest of Movement
CCTV cameras are able to capture the slightest movement when looking at a video feed, making them ideal for solving crimes. They help in capturing everything from robberies and murders to gas thefts. CCTV cameras have a wide-angle lens and can see slight movements in the room.
Often, people set up CCTVs in their homes to monitor their valuables; however, it can also be utilized as a tool for crime investigations. Criminals don’t always come in masked, some of them are just regular guys on the street who have anger issues and don’t think that they’ll ever get caught.
Security Cameras Provide, 24/7 Surveillance
CCTV cameras have many benefits for security, but one of the most important is the ability to provide consistently 24/7 surveillance. Security cameras are always on and recording, making them a more reliable crime-fighting tool than eyewitnesses.
The footage captured by these cameras provides investigative leads that help authorities track suspects and solve crimes in a time span of hours or days rather than months or years, like with most cold cases.
Improve the Police’s Ability to Identify Suspects
All too often, the police are hindered in their investigations by a lack of identification for suspects. However, one solution to this problem is cameras that broadcast footage from multiple angles to provide a full picture of any given scene.
This type of camera can greatly assist law enforcement in identifying criminals because it captures both still and moving images from different angles which will give officers a clearer idea of who they are looking for.
Reduce Burglaries at Home
CCTV cameras also help stop burglaries, arson, and auto theft at home. After shooting or robbery, investigators can monitor the video to identify suspects. Even if no one is caught on camera, footage can show when and where a crime occurred.
In contrast, surveillance footage of robberies and other crimes often goes unnoticed due to a lack of public awareness. With more surveillance equipment in public spaces, people are more likely to report crime if they see it taking place in real-time.
Provide Vital Evidence in Traffic Accidents
Surveillance cameras can also be used to collect evidence at a traffic accident. If a driver hits another car and speeds off, the camera will have captured the license plate number and it can help law enforcement catch the offender.
You might be surprised to find out that surveillance footage can be used for more than just catching the criminal. They can also provide vital evidence in traffic accidents, with important details such as eyewitnesses, speeding drivers, and obstructions.
Reconstructing a Crime Scene
It is important for detectives and police officers alike to recreate the crime scene as accurately as possible. With the introduction of CCTV systems, it is much easier for investigators to monitor crime scenes and make sure that everything is in order before the authorities arrive.
Once everything has been checked and approved, CCTV footage from inside or outside the building can be reviewed by police. This not only helps them reconstruct events leading up to the crime, but it also helps them find evidence that may have been overlooked by other law enforcement agencies.
Being used as evidence at trial
CCTV footage can be used as evidence at a trial by presenting it to a jury. Jurors can use the footage as an aid during deliberations, seeing as they get all the information they need in one place, instead of piecing together a story from various sources.
The reliability of CCTV footage has also been called into question, and these days defendants are often desperate for any kind of evidence that will clear their names.
Conclusion
CCTV cameras are widely used and have helped many solve crimes that have come under the scanner, including murder cases. It is highly recommended to use a CCTV camera if you want to keep yourself safe from thefts, violence, and other threats of crime. To buy the best SIRA and police-certified-CCTV cameras, connect with us via WhatsApp at +971585811786.